2 injured in shelter fire outside east London mission

Two people were taken to hospital after sustaining injuries from a fire outside of the Ark Aid Street Mission on Dundas Street early Wednesday morning. 

Emergency crews responded to reports of a fire at around 3 a.m. ET and found the fire outside the building. 

London Fire platoon chief Colin Shewell confirmed to CBC News that the fire was in a temporary shelter, and the circumstances surrounding the cause have yet to be determined. 

"We will be working with the London police services as well as our fire investigator today to hopefully determine the cause of the ignition source and move forward from there," he said. "But at this point, there were a number of combustible items consistent with the items that the on home may have with them that were involved in the incident." 

Those items include a shopping cart and cardboard boxes, he said. 

London police said they would stay at the location overnight as they assist with the investigation. No foul play is suspected, said Const. Sandasha Bough. 

Ark Aid's Dundas Street location has been undergoing repairs for extensive fire damage to its main building in May 2022. The mission has been operating services out of a Richmond Row church and announced last week it is preparing to make a full return to its original home. 

It is fundraising $1 million to help cover the remaining cost of repairs.